Twitter has started a sweep to eliminate your platform fake accounts, with the purpose, according to the social network, of preventing spam and keeping all accounts safe. As a result of this decision, many users noticed a sudden drop in the number of followers, and are complaining a lot about it.
You may notice some follower count fluctuations from time to time.
Accounts that we've asked to confirm their password or phone number aren't included in follower counts until they've confirmed that info. We do this regularly to help prevent spam and keep all accounts secure.
—Support (@Support) June 15, 2021
In a statement, Twitter said the aim of the action is to protect the integrity and legitimacy of conversations on its service. The platform says it regularly asks accounts with suspicious behavior around the world to confirm details such as passwords or cell phone numbers, proving that there is a person behind them.
But in Brazil…
However, even though it is a procedure carried out worldwide, as pointed out in the note, the removal of fake accounts from Twitter has been the target of many complaints here in Brazil. The most strident ones come from the core pocketnarista and the far right in the country, who claim (without evidence) that the platform's action is part of political persecution.
One of the most vocal voices in this regard is that of Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of the current Brazilian president. congressperson, who has lost around 15 thousand followers so far, considered that government action, including the publication of a decree, was necessary to “put an end to these abuses”. Others who complained in posts on Twitter about losing a significant number of followers on the social network were the current Secretary of Culture, Mario Frias, and the former Minister of Education, Abraham Weintraub. Jair Bolsonaro saw a reduction of approximately 14 thousand followers on his Twitter profile, according to some information found on the social network.
Following Twitter's note, until they complete the confirmation step, the accounts are temporarily disabled, with functionalities limited, and are no longer included in the calculation for follower counts. This means that these numbers can fluctuate when Twitter does its regular checks globally.
Regarding the decree considered by Senator Bolsonaro, what would be at stake is the prohibition of social networks from removing information from the air just because they believe that their own policies have been violated by users. In addition, it would be even more difficult for platforms to delete accounts that they understand to be inappropriate according to their terms of use.
With Folha de São Paulo
Image: Computerizer/Pixabay/CC